On the first day of
Navaratri, following
Ganapati puja, a welcoming ritual is performed for goddesses
Saraswati,
Durga, and
Lakshmi by a Hindu ritual called
Kalasa Aavahanam which is performed by an elderly male or female of the family at an auspicious time (
muhurtam). This is then followed by building a rack of odd-numbered shelves of
golu (or
Padi) (usually 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11), set up using wooden planks. After the steps have been covered with fabric it is then adorned with various dolls, figurines and toys according to their size, with the deities at the top. In the evenings, women within the neighborhood invite each other to visit their homes to view the golu displays; they also exchange gifts and sweets. A
Kuthuvilakku lamp is lit, in the middle of a decorated
rangoli, while devotional hymns and
shlokas are chanted. After performing the
puja, the food items that have been prepared are offered to the Goddess and then to the guests. The first 3 days of the festival are dedicated to
Durga, then the next 3 days dedicated to
Lakshmi and finally, the last 3 days are dedicated to
Saraswati. On the 9th day,
Saraswati Puja, special pujas are offered to goddess
Saraswati. Books and musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge. The 10th day,
Vijayadashami, is regarded by some to be the most auspicious day of all. It was the day Hindus believe the
asura Mahishasura was finally destroyed by Durga. It is regarded to mark a new and prosperous beginning. Later, on the evening of
Vijayadashami, one of the doll from the display is symbolically put to sleep, and the Kalasha is moved a bit towards North to mark the end of that year's Navaratri golu display. Prayers are offered to thank deities for the successful completion of that year's Navaratri festival and with hope of a successful one the next year. Then the steps are dismantled and the dolls are packed up for the next year. == History ==